Botha shines as Ire bowl out B'desh for 205

Dhaka, Feb 25: After Bangladesh got off to blazing start in the 9th match of the World Cup 2011, Ireland put on a remarkable performance in the field to peg the hosts back and eventually restrict them to 205 in 49.2 overs. Opener Tamim Iqbal top-scored with 44 off 43 balls, but following his exit the rest of the batting was hardly inspired with just Mushfiqur Rahim (36) and Raqibul Hasan (38) offering some resistance. Spinner Andre Botha led the attack admirably, taking 3/32 off 9 overs.

It seemed the Bangladeshi openers were in their element, with Imrul Kayes and Tamim Iqbal each taking a four off Trent Johnston in the first over. The pair subjected Boyd Rankin to the same disdainful treatment in the second over. Then in the next over, Iqbal attacked Johnston, again getting him away for a couple of boundaries.

John Mooney was brought into the attack to stem the run-flow, but Iqbal hammered even him for a four straight up. However, in his following over, Mooney had Kayes stumped for 12 and the hosts were 53/1 in 6.4 overs. A short while later, Junnai Siddique was run out for 3 and the Bangladeshis were in a spot of bother at 61/2 in 9 overs.

Then Iqbal himself joined the out batsmen in the shed when he smashed Botha straight into the palms of William Porterfield at point. The host has been seriously pegged back to 68/3 in the 12th over. Captain Shakib Al Hasan then counter-attacked by clobbering 3 fours in four overs and had a bit of luck when he was dropped off Rankin in the 15th over.

But what Rankin only threatened to do, Andre Botha pulled off - when he caught and bowled Hasan for 16. Bangladesh were in deeper trouble at 86/4 in 15.2 overs. Then Mushfiqur Rahim and Raqibul Hasan tried to stabilise the innings, taking their side past 100 in the 21st overs and pressing on. But after a 60-run partnership, the former batsman perished to Dockrell for 36 off 66 balls as the score now read 147/5.

Dockrell then picked up the key wicket of Mohammad Ashraful for 1 off 6 balls as the Bangladeshi slide continued at 151/6 in 35.2 overs. Raqibul Hasan was the next to go, courtesy a run out. He was on his way for 38 off 69 balls, before Naeem Islam upped the ante and smacked Rankin for two fours in the 39th over.

But Botha returned to peg back the hosts further when he trapped Sahfiul Islam in front for 2. Bangladesh was staring at the bottom of the barrel at 170/8 in 42.3 overs. Abdul Razzak and Naeem Islam tried to keep the innings going, but the former was bowled by Johnston for 11 off 16 balls, in the 48th over.

Naeem Islam and Rubel Hossian then took Bangladesh over 200 before Johnston accounted for the former batsman's wicket for 29, to wrap up the Bangladeshi innings for 205 in 49.2 overs. Oneindia Cricket